For Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, this series will feature organizations who directly and positively impact the health and wellbeing of young people in our community.

The Home to School Program was implemented by Centralia City Schools to ensure the safety, well-being, and future of each student.  With 364 students currently enrolled in the program, Kathy Donnelly and Lindsey Miller have a full job.

“I created this program. It began as an idea from [Centralia City Schools superintendent] Craig Clark,” said Donnelly, who has served as liaison for ten years. “He wanted a program that could be a bridge between the schools and the families, where we could go into these families and find out what the obstacles are for the children to be able to come to school without having to worry about adult problems.”

Speaking on the major issues they experience within the district, Donnelly and Miller cited an increase in homelessness, hygiene issues, lack of basic necessities, attendance issues, and food insecurities.

“We see kids who have horrific behavioral problems. We deal with domestic violence cases, neglect, abuse,” Donnelly explained. “There are a lot of obstacles we face because we do lack resources locally.”

“Yes, there are food pantries, but if you do not have transportation, utilizing them is easier said than done,” Donnelly continued. “We really try to make sure children have food that is kid-friendly and that they can make. Some of these families live in motels. We try to get them food that is adequate and also semi-healthy so that they can eat while they are living there.

“It is amazing how many parents will get a student handbook and never read it,” Donnelly said. “Lindsey and I to try to address truancy cases before they go chronic. Education is a way out of poverty, and if you’re missing school, starting when you’re in kindergarten, you’re missing out on the basic knowledge you need to succeed.”

However, both Donnelly and Miller said awareness can help grow more resources, including every adult in the community.

“One thing I don’t think the community realizes is that the law has changed. The law now says that every adult is a mandated reporter,” advised Donnelly. “If you are living next door to a family that believes there’s domestic violence going on, or you believe the children are not being fed or neglected, you’re a mandated reporter. So, by law, it is your job to all your concerns in and have it investigated.”

Regarding awareness and prevention within the school district, Miller said she and Donnelly do perform training with faculty and staff and hope to enhance the number of trainings in the future.

“[Alerts] can come from anybody that is in-district. It can be a principal, a teacher, a custodia, or a bus driver; anybody that might see that a child might be struggling,” Miller said. “We have a form on our website, and they will fill out that form and it comes straight to us, and we make contact with the parents and see what we can do to help.”

Alerts of potential child abuse or neglect may be made by anyone within the district and may be submitted by completing the liaison referral form found on the Centralia City Schools website at  Centralia City Schools (ccs135.com).

Centralia City Schools

618-532-1907

400 S. Elm Street, Centralia IL

Centralia City Schools (ccs135.com)